I'm currently working on a simple XNA project consisting of a 3rd person camera, but now I need a character model to sit in front. So I chose 3D studio max as my design packaged and watched all the provided tutorials on the basic controls, objects creating and transformations.

This is where I have become stuck, no where can I find any decent tutorials that take me through the stages of setting up bone structure and then creating multiple animations in a single model. Every tutorial I read/watch shows me basic animation on a single time line using time stamp keys.

So here is my question
Can some one point me in the right direction in which I can find some good tutorials on setting up bones/multiple animations ?

If you're using 2012 or newer, you have access to the CatRig which will make your life of rigging and animation a whole lot easier.I'd say it's similar to the in house tools that some studios have. One of the things I do with it is use it to set the bones and base, then use layered animations to create more unique animations from it.